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Separate incidents were also reported in the Waitrose car park, Dickens Way and Ryves Avenue.

Writing on the Yateley Community Facebook page, one furious resident said the vandals slashed two of her husband’s car tyres.

“Three other houses in my street have been affected,” she added.

“The scariest thing about it all is they clearly used some large knives to carry out this damage.

“It is terrifying to think of people walking the streets round here with weapons like that.

“They have clearly worked their way round the neighbourhood and done a lot of damage."

This car had its soft top roof slashed with a knife (Image: Facebook)

“It’s disgusting. It’s a lot of money for us to fix this damage, especially just before Christmas," the resident added.

One man said vandals did “thousands of pounds worth” of damage to a friend’s car in the Waitrose car park overnight.

He added every panel was keyed, tyres slashed and mirrors kicked off.

“The car is undriveable,” he wrote. “Whoever did this was not mucking about. It’s wrecked.

“We must be looking at £50,000 worth of damage just from the incidents on here. It’s not tolerable.”

Scores of vehicles were damaged during the wrecking spree (Image: Facebook)

The man added he handed out “loads” of sweets to “some really cute kids who knocked on the door who’d made massive efforts with costumes".

“The turds wrecking people’s cars are just using Halloween as an excuse. Most of the kids last night were brilliant.”

One man said that despite the incidents, Yateley was “an excellent place to live”.

“The community spirit is, and will always be, outstanding,” he added.

“Yateley cares, hence the reaction to the incidents last night."

A number of vehicles were scratched (Image: Facebook)

“On occasions such as last night we need to facilitate those wishing to trick or treat; whilst reassuring the elderly and vulnerable and identifying any individual/s who wish to use this or any future community event to cause crime and antisocial behaviour.

"Whether that be through residential/community patrols; or some other form of deterrent against those who wish to cause havoc in the community.

“I, for one, would be willing to contribute to a ‘community reward’ for any information leading to the prosecution of the offenders."

'Appalling, criminal behaviour'

“Please remember, the next event is less than a week away. This will continue to happen until we the community show we are not willing to accept this appalling, criminal behaviour.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We have received a number of reports of vehicles being damaged in Yateley overnight on Tuesday October 31.

“Damage reported includes scratches to the paintwork, damage to soft top roof fabric, broken windows and slashed tyres.